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Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/6/2007 4:56:16 AM   
slim_pkns



Posts: 52
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Lenox, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Howdy y'all!

I got my hands on a VK Cherokee Babe kit. Unfortunately I'm not so experienced with kit building and after looking over the kit contents, I noticed there weren't any instructions. I have a thing for that vintage look and feel and I really want to get into this build but I'm a bit intimidated and I haven't seen any build threads to follow.

I'm thinking of starting a build thread here if I can generate enough interest. I've seen a lot of talk here and on other forums about the VK Cherokee Babe. Mainly about buying & selling and how much you can get for one. Has anyone here recently built one that might be willing to help or would just be interested in give advice, tips, and techniques?
       Post #: 1

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/6/2007 6:13:11 AM   
maxpower1954


 

Posts: 138
Joined: 11/17/2005
From: Rock Hill, SC, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Slim, not exactly recent, I built my Cherokee Babe in 1970!

Great flying airplane, with a well-known flaw - under certain conditions, it will get into a flat spin and not be recoverable!
Mine flat spun to the ground three different times with little damage. It could probably use a little more vertical fin and/or rudder area.

Sounds like you may have never built an all-balsa model before. You need a flat building surface you can stick pins into,
I use a building board made from balsa, you can get them from Tower.

Maybe if you came up with specific questions on the process, we could point you in the right direction. It isn't hard, just tedious at times. I would recommend you use Titebond or simliar instead of CA, it gives you more time to set things up correctly. I'm sure this group will be happy to help...Russ Farris

(in reply to slim_pkns)
       Post #: 2

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/6/2007 6:51:23 PM   
slim_pkns



Posts: 52
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Lenox, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the advice. I have built balsa kits before but not for a few years and never one without a step-by-step manual walking through the whole build process. I think I'm going to get ready to start a build thread on this model and see how many others might have built this kit before. The plan isn't too complicated and I would guess the build process is the same for the larger VK Cherokee.

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       Post #: 3

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/6/2007 7:20:50 PM   
Bax


 

Posts: 11913
Joined: 4/26/2002
From: Champaign, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Many times, old kits didn't have step-by-step instructions. You may have some hints or sketches in the plans to show a general building process, but most of your direction came from a study of the plans. On that kit, though, I'd not be sure. I build the .60-size VK Cherokee in 1972, and don't remember if there were actual instructions or just guides in the plans.

It was assumed by many kit makers, then, that if they supplied the parts and plans, you'd know enough to build the model. In those days, by the time you were getting into R/C, you usually had considerable building experience behind you, because R/C usually came after you'd spent some years building and flying free-flight and control-line models. R/C was VERY EXPENSIVE in those days, and you usually learned modeling on something considerably less expensive.

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       Post #: 4

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/6/2007 9:37:05 PM   
slim_pkns



Posts: 52
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Lenox, MA, USA
Status: offline 		I've been looking over the Titebond site and I can't telll which glue would be best for building a balsa kit. Which one is suggested for this small type of job?

(in reply to Bax)
       Post #: 5

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/7/2007 12:34:15 AM   
HighPlains


 

Posts: 2525
Joined: 3/2/2003
From: Over da rainbow, KS, USA
Status: offline 		I just looked at the large Cherokee kit stashed away. There is a small sheet of instuctions along with the two plans sheets (which are well detailed). Here is a shot of the top half of the sheet, the bottom is just a parts listing. Perhaps the Babe is about the same.

Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


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       Post #: 6

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/7/2007 1:15:10 AM   
slim_pkns



Posts: 52
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Lenox, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks HighPlains! I can't quite read that but it is probably very similar and it confirms I should be working the wing first. Have you built a VK Cherokee before or just saving it?

(in reply to HighPlains)
       Post #: 7

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/7/2007 3:02:30 AM   
HighPlains


 

Posts: 2525
Joined: 3/2/2003
From: Over da rainbow, KS, USA
Status: offline 		I haven't gotten around to building one yet, but I did get a chance to fly one a couple of years ago. Although it looked a bit strange with the stock dihedral, it flew very nicely and tracked well through inside and outside loops. The only Babe I have seen was electric powered and it flew well too.

Both were models that I have always wanted since I was a kid in the late 60's.

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       Post #: 8

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/7/2007 3:22:25 AM   
maxpower1954


 

Posts: 138
Joined: 11/17/2005
From: Rock Hill, SC, USA
Status: offline 		The original Titebond works just fine, Home Depot or any hardware store has it. I also have used Titebond Carpenters glue, I really can't tell the difference.

Titebond is water resistant and sands OK, unlike Elmer's glue-all.

Russ Farris

(in reply to HighPlains)
       Post #: 9

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/7/2007 3:44:11 PM   
jjscott



Posts: 160
Joined: 7/11/2007
From: Elm Grove, WI, USA
Status: offline 		There was an extensive VK Cherokee (60 size?) build that I found on the web some time ago, but I don't have a link to it. I believe it may have been on some RC Club site. IIRC it was a group build (multiple planes) and had lots of pictures. Maybe someone on this board remembers it & has a link. I'll search around a bit and see if I can find it.


Jim

(in reply to maxpower1954)
       Post #: 10

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/7/2007 3:55:10 PM   
jjscott



Posts: 160
Joined: 7/11/2007
From: Elm Grove, WI, USA
Status: offline 		OK, that was easy, #6 on the first page of my search. I'm not sure if I know how to make a link to the page:

Flying Knights Cherokee Build

It's a great build series. Jim

(in reply to jjscott)
       Post #: 11

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/8/2007 1:14:06 AM   
slim_pkns



Posts: 52
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Lenox, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the link Jim! I read the whole thread but found it was mostly over how the club redesigned the old plans to make it easier and even used foam core wings and stab. There was one member who built one from the original kit and he had a few great pictures but no details about his process or how things went. All-in-all it was really inspirational, a very interesting read, and I still learned some things.

I did notice they used wood glue like others advised me to do. I'm wondering about the time it takes to bond. I would guess it takes more than a few minutes and you'd need to keep a bunch of clamps, clothes pins, and stick pins handy. Also, you must have to let things harden overnight, eh?

Great info, thanks again!!!

(in reply to jjscott)
       Post #: 12

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/8/2007 3:18:29 PM   
jjscott



Posts: 160
Joined: 7/11/2007
From: Elm Grove, WI, USA
Status: offline 		You might read some of the kit assembly manuals to help with the process. Many are quite comprehensive, including directions on which glue to use and when. Try going to the kit airplanes at towerhobbies.com to get their manuals. Top Flite also has manuals. Here are a couple:

Contender

Slow Poke

Jim

(in reply to slim_pkns)
       Post #: 13

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/10/2007 4:14:35 AM   
slim_pkns



Posts: 52
Joined: 6/22/2007
From: Lenox, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks everyone for the great feedback. I think I'm going to go for it. I'm going to keep looking for anyone who might have built this model recently. I haven't seen any other build threds on the VK Cherokee Babe so I'm definitely going to start one.

(in reply to jjscott)
       Post #: 14

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/10/2007 4:59:25 AM   
Knight_74



Posts: 115
Joined: 2/19/2005
From: Hamburg, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Slim, glad you enjoyed our build. We used both CA and TiteBond. Generaly we used the Titebond where we would
need to do extensive sanding. Although some used just CA and some just Titebond. Many of our members new Vern from way back since he was a local guy. With the recent movement towards SPA and Vintage RC, a few of us thought it would be fun to build an oldie. There was a lot of discussion as to which would be a good subject. When one member mentioned he had an original kit, that made our minds up.
We thought about making a duplicate of the kit, but after looking at all the pieces, and having a few guys that had never built anything other than and ARF we decided to rework the design. We didn't change any dimensions of the plane, just updated some of the building and materials... afterall it is almost 50 years old now.
Other than the fact that we were able to get a bunch of members together to do a fun project, I'd say the
best part was that even the most novice builder was able to walk away with a completed plane that flew great.

Anyway, good luck with your build! I'm sure you will enjoy it.


< Message edited by Knight_74 -- 11/10/2007 5:00:47 AM >

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       Post #: 15

RE: Recent VK Cherokee Babe build - 11/10/2007 4:01:48 PM